Fixture

On Saturday afternoon the Magpies made the long trip west to face Pembrokeshire side Fishguard and Goodwick RFC in Division 2 West. Unfortunately for the boys it was the same old story as a slow start allowed the home side to build up a comfortable lead that they never looked like relinquishing. In what has become a common theme for Tumble this season the Magpies allowed the Seagulls to motor into a 22-0 lead (and claim a bonus point) within 18 minutes much the same as what happened the previous week against Loughor RFC. Allowing the opposition to build a commanding lead is often the kick-start this Tumble side needs to start competing and this was again the case against Fishguard. With their tails up the Seagulls full back Robbie Jones tried to run a loose ball from behind his own posts which prompted chaos in the home ranks. A penalty was awarded to the Magpies which was taken quickly to allow hooker Rhys Lewis to crash over the whitewash. Centre Steffan Price stepped up to slot over the resulting conversion and make the score 22-7 which is how it remained at the interval.

The second half started with the Magpies suddenly looking twice the team that started the game so poorly.  Scott Jones, playing at outside half threatened with a clean break in midfield before further pressure resulted in a yellow card for home prop Andrew McVeigh. With Fishguard down to 14 men the Magpies capitalised on the numerical advantage, with second row Nathan Willard powering over for a try near the posts which Price converting to reduce the deficit to 22-14. The final quarter saw the Seagulls go over for two further tries to re-establish a comfortable lead and end the game 34-14 winners.

Shorn of a number of experienced campaigners who have retired or left the club over the last couple of seasons 2018-19 has been a tough campaign for the boys thus far but we don’t help ourselves by starting games slowly and allowing the opposition to build up commanding leads. The trend of Tumble coming back into games shows that there is ability and talent within the young squad and in the long term this season will be a positive experience in the development of the team. Worrying for upcoming games was the number of players who left the field during the game injured. Hopefully these knocks wont be too serious and keep the affected players out of action for too long.

Scorers:

Tries – Rhys Lewis, Nathan Willard

Conversions – Steffan Price x2

Ymlaen Y Piod